As much of the world opens its borders and looks to the post-Covid travel era, we round up the travel essentials you should be packing on your next adventure.
Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer, or so the saying goes, but clearly, whomever first penned that fortune cookie hadn’t danced with Ms Corona. Throughout the pandemic, many of us put our spare change into a jar labelled “Get the Hell Out of Here”, knowing that as soon as was prudent, we would emerge from lockdowns, dining restrictions and nasal probing and once again claim our planet.
And for much of the world, that time has come; airlines are once again rolling out routes across the world, major destinations are doing away with quarantine, and those of us who are vaccinated and set to inherit the earth, like Brad Pitt emerging from the sewers in 12 Monkeys. He had his spacesuit, here’s what you’ll need.
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A Tablet
Whether you’re looking to stay connected on the road or you simply want to catch up on The Expanse, you’ll need some type of personal computing power, and you can’t go past the brand spanking new iPad Air. Boasting the Apple M1 chip, the new iPad comes in an array of colours and features a new Ultra Wide front camera with Centre Stage, blazing-fast 5G (on cellular models), a USB-C port, and a screen that will wow even the most stoic PC fanboy.
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A Passport Wallet
Sure, all your vaccination and PCR test results are digital now and are likely to stay that way but it’s always good to have printed backups and for that, it’s best to have one place where you can keep all your essential info as you travel. Combine good looks with a stance on sustainability with this passport holder from Oliver Co. Made from vegan apple leather and wood leather and lined with organic cotton, this wallet is minimalist and durable and is the perfect place to keep passports, loyalty and club cards, and boarding passes.
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Headphones
Travel can be an assault on the senses. Fortunately, Bose continues its range of travel-friendly noise-cancelling headphones with the QuietComfort 45, which replaces the popular QC35IIs with improved noise cancellation for instant quiet anywhere, a new AWARE Mode to let the world back in, better voice isolation for easier conversations, and 24-hour battery life on a single charge.
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Vitamin C
As we emerge from the pandemic it’s important to maintain the strength and effectiveness of our immune system and part of that is maintaining Vitamin C levels, especially when we’re combating poor sleep, dehydration and time changes. High strength and easy to absorb, the Zookie Vitamin C dose comes in a lightweight on-the-go sachet that can be taken directly or added to water or fruit juice to ensure your body has all it needs to fight off Covid or whatever is thrown its way. The dose is available in citrus and watermelon flavours and in a range of potency.
Pillow Spray
Getting good sleep on a long-haul flight can make or break your time abroad, especially for those shorter work trips with packed schedules. Get your head right for a decent nap in-flight with this lavender and chamomile pillow spray from Votary. Packed with soothing ingredients including anti-anxiety and de-stressing Damask rose oil, think of it as an aromatherapy alternative to that third glass of pinot noir during dinner.
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Globe-Trotter x Golf Le Fleur Luggage
No stranger to collaborations, British luggage brand Globe-Trotter has partnered with Tyler, The Creator and his Golf Le Fleur brand to create some striking takes on the brand’s Suitcase, Small Attaché and London Square cases, While the construction remains the same, in Globe-Trotter’s iconic vulcanised fibreboard, the exterior features an ivory base that’s contrasted with vibrant pink, blue, green and orange touches in Golf-branded graphics. In addition to the cases, which are perfect for work forays and shorter trips, the duo has created a case sticker pack, a luggage tag and a passport sleeve gracing the mantra “For the sun seekers who flew the coup. It’s sugar in the air, so keep your eyes wide. Call me if you get lost. Welcome to the disco.”
A Face Mask
While they might not be in place forever, for now most airlines have a facemask mandate, one that’s proven difficult to enforce in some corners of the world. Think ahead and get yourself a mask that’s both comfortable for long stints and effective against keeping the bad stuff at bay. The Lite Air Mask by Air Num is not only reusable but also protects against air pollution, smog, pollen, allergens, and bacteria. Made with a lightweight 3D air mesh material and elastic earloops, the mask provides a great balance between solid protection, lightweight comfort, and a timeless design for everyday use.
A Cocktail Kit
Even if you’re flying business at the tail end of the pandemic, there’s no guarantee you’re going to get the same kind of service you’re used to as airlines and their crews play it safe. Instead, plan for the worst and enjoy the best with this Manhattan Cocktail Kit, one of a plethora of kits from Cocktail Box Co. The kit has the ingredients – sans whisky – to make six Manhattans, which could get you from Hong Kong to LA or you and your pals from Tokyo to Okinawa. There’s cane sugar, vermouth bitters and orange bitters, as well as a spoon and muddler, three cocktail picks, and a hand-knit napkin for the IG pics at 40,000ft. Replenish the tin on the go and you’ll never have to drink the house wine again.
De-Stressing Gummies
Travel can be stressful and if you’re trying not to turn to the wet bar for relief the Complete Calm De-stress Gummies from Asystem might be the ticket. Available in two flavours – Sicilian Lemon & Ginger, and Blood Orange & Cayenne – these anxiety-busting candies are packed with powerful natural ingredients including a patented extract of Persian saffron that supports emotional health, Panax Ginseng, Lion’s Mane extract, which is thought to improve cognitive function, Rhodiola extract, lemon balm extract, and a unique day terpene blend.
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A Backpack
A backpack has always been a travel essential and with many modern takes on the classic greying the lines between adventure and urban, the Adventure Slipstream Backpack from Troubadour has you covered from the office to the forest trail. Available in grey, this waterproof backpack features an internal padded laptop compartment, an exterior zip pocket, and signature vegetable-tanned Italian leather trim.
A Power Bank
There’s nothing worst than heading out on a trip only to realise you’re running low on juice across the board. Lightweight and durable, the 10,000mAh Q Portable Charger has you covered with built-in cables for a wide range of devices, as well as prongs so it can be charged directly from the mains.
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